"Oh, don't I wish we had orders to bombard this blessed town! Go it! That didn't hit you, did it, sir ?" "No, it only brushed my cap," I said, as the stones began to come more thickly, and the shouting told of the keen delight the mob enjoyed in making the English retreat.

"Pull away, my lads, and throw the grapnel over as soon as we are out of reach." "But we don't want to pull away, sir.

They thinks we're fear'd on 'em.
There's about a hundred on 'em--dirty yaller-faced beggars, and there's four o' us, without counting you.

Just you give the word, sir, and we'll row back in spite o' their stones, and make the whole gang on 'em run.

Eh, mates ?" "Ay, ay!" said the others, lying on their oars.
"Pull!" I cried sharply, and they began rowing again; for though I should have liked to give the word, I knew that it would not only have been madness, but disobedience of orders.